Hawaii's Big Island Family Multisport
- The sensational Waipio Valley, where sheer cliffs are blanketed by thick greenery and strung with waterfalls
- Bike on Crater Rim Drive before a huge descent to the stunning Kau Coast
- Plenty of quality beach time - and canoeing if you like
- Snorkel and kayak with sea turtles and colorful fish
- Hike across a caldera with a certified volcanologist
Big-Time Fun on the Big Island from Coast to Crater
Aloha and whoa! Animal: parrot fish, turtles, butterfly fish. Vegetable: rain forest, flower leis, fresh pineapple. Mineral: Lava tubes, sea caves, active volcanoes, black-sand beaches. Add crystalline water, canoeing, hiking, snorkeling, biking. And plenty of opportunities to lounge poolside, hit the waterslide or head to the spa. You guessed it: Hawaii.
Day
1 The sensational Waipio Valley, where sheer cliffs are blanketed by thick greenery and strung with waterfalls 
Bike along Hamakua's high coastline - postcard-perfect valleys and lush tropical hills greet you around every turn Hear a rushing sound? A rain forest walk leads to Akaka Falls, where water plunges more than 400 feet.
Days
2-3 Hike across a caldera and through a forest of ginger with a local guide in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, home to Kilauea, the Earth's most active volcano Spin past ferns and ohia lehua trees on Crater Rim Drive before descending 4,000 feet to the stunning Kau Coast Kids: get ready for an authentic paniolo experience with horseback riding on a working ranch Is that rock moving? No, it's a sea turtle on the black sand of Punaluu Beach! Learn the stories of people who sought refuge at Puuhonua long ago.
Day
4 Kayak past rocky cliffs and secluded sea caves in crystalline Keauhou Bay Want a closer look? Don a mask and snorkel for a swimming adventure among colorful parrot fish, moorish idol and Hawaiian lionfish Fresh Kona coffee tempts at a small independent farm.
Days
5-6 Kids refine their paddling skills in the water with the Kona Boys and explore tide pools or learn to make leis Spin along the sun-drenched Kohala Coast, tracing 30 miles of the Kona Ironman Triathlon's cycling course Rather relax? Lounge on white sand or indulge at the spa, snorkel or play tennis Glimpse Hawaii's royal heritage on a visit to the temple of Kamehameha the Great, Hawaii's most renowned king.
Guests Reviews About This Trip
This was the best family vacation we ever had, and a great part of that was due to the wonderful leaders we had, who were simply outstanding. They not only were sensitive to our every need and concern, they were wonderful with the children, all of whom clearly ended up worshiping them and wishing - like us - that the trip would not end. I think our son would have preferred to go with them at the end than to come home with us! All in all, we're with Backroads for the long haul and look forward to another trip soon.- Manhattan Beach, CA
Best family vacation we've ever had!!!!! It was great seeing the enthusiasm of all of the local people. I noticed our leaders make a great effort in maintaining a good relationship with all of the locals. We love going on Backroads trips. It's a true vacation for everyone. It was definitely the best family trip we've ever taken.- Pittsford, NY
Superb operation, wonderful (WONDERFUL) family vacation experience. Taking the logistics/planning out of the equation made everything better. And the guides did a tremendous job enabling everyone in our family and our group to customize their daily activities to match their individual preferences. Truly a wonderful family experience.- San Francisco, CA
Casual & Premiere Inns*
Kilauea Lodge
Volcano Village (2 nights) An up-country bed-and-breakfast with ideal access to Volcanoes National Park.
Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa
Kailua-Kona (1 night) This full-service resort overlooks an ancient lava flow on the Kona coast. (pool, spa, tennis)
Fairmont Orchid
Kohala Coast (2 nights) Blissful resort offering abundant amenities, a lovely half-moon beach and sweeping views of the Pacific. Condé Nast Traveler Gold List. (pool, spa, tennis, golf)
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This Trip Is Rated Level 1-4
Routes For All Abilities
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of
interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one
day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat
from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each
day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
| Daily Route Options | |||||||||||
| Day | Activity | EASYGOING | ACTIVE | AVID | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | |||||||
| miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | ||
| 1 | Biking | 17 | 500 | ||||||||
| Walking | 0.5 | 100 | |||||||||
| 2 | Biking | 15* | 200 | 38 | 1800 | ||||||
| Walking | 4.9 | 850 | |||||||||
| Kids | Afternoon activities at Pa’ani Ranch (petting zoo, fishing pond, horseback riding) | ||||||||||
| 3 | Biking | 24* | 1000 | 40* | 1500 | ||||||
| Other | Pu`uhonua o` Honaunau National Park visit (1 hour) | ||||||||||
| 4 | Kayaking | And snorkeling in Keauhou Bay (3 - 4 hours) | |||||||||
| 5 | Biking | 28* | 0 | 35 | 1000 | 50 | 1500 | 70 | 1500 | ||
| Other | Optional afternoon swimming, tennis, or golf | ||||||||||
| Kids | Stand-up paddle boarding and canoeing (3 - 4 hours) | ||||||||||
| 6 | Walking | 1.0 | 200 | ||||||||
On this Family Trip, our routes follow gentle terrain with some climbs. Liberal van shuttling is incorporated into the itinerary to facilitate our activities and mileage is kept moderate to enable you to spend more time exploring on your own.
* Includes a shuttle
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For 34 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the Hawaii tour experts. See our award-winning USA multisport tours, USA biking tours and USA walking and hiking tours.
